Grocery Store Review: Kerr Drug

Kerr Drug opened this past week in the new East 54 shopping center. They have half an aisle with gluten/wheat free products. Some of the things I found included:

Green Mountain Gringo Salsa
Bob's Red Mill (xantham gum, rice flour, almond flour, cookie mix, brownie mix, etc.)
Gluten Free Pantry (bread mix, brownie mix, pie crust, pizza mix)
Pamela's cake mixes and frosting
Tinkyada pasta
Pamela's cookies
Envirokids rice bars
Kinnikinnick graham crackers and animal cookies
Majans Bhuja Cracker Mix
Glutino pretzels
Enjoy Life granola
Envirokids Leapin Lemurs and Gorilla Munch cereal
Larabars
And much more!

Go check it out soon! I was very impressed. Naturally Kerr is a new spin on the regular drug store!

Food Allergy Walk This Saturday

This Saturday, November 7th, 2009, there will be a walk to raise funds and awareness for Food Allergies held in Cary. The walk is sponsored by The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and NC FACES (North Carolina Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely) support group. This will be an excellent opportunity to shine the spotlight on food allergies and how they affect millions of Americans. If you have not seen my Food Allergen Restaurant Poster Petition, click here.

Walk Details
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2009
Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.; Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary, NC 27513
Distance: 2 miles
Event Web site (visit this site to create or join a team or give
Email Contact: Christa Davidson
Restrictions: No pets, glass bottles, bikes, roller skates, or skate boards. Baby strollers and wagons are welcomed.
Target Fundraising Goal: $70,000 (currently have raised nearly $14,000)

About FAAN
FAAN is a national network offering support and education for people with food allergies. There is a ton a great information on their Web site. The group was established in 1991. FAAN’s membership now stands at close to 30,000 worldwide and includes families, dietitians, nurses, physicians, school staff, and representatives from government agencies and the food and pharmaceutical industries. FAAN serves as the communication link between the patient and others. FAAN focuses on awareness, education, advocacy, research and many other areas (a lot of the same goals for this blog). FAAN is (and has been conducting Food Allergy Walks all over the US for years now. Click here for the Walk Web site. There was also a race in Charlotte this past September which raised more than $25,000 and had over 300 participants.

About NC FACES
NC FACES was started by local parents in 2003 who had children with food allergies. The group began by getting together for play dates and has now grown to over 200 families. They focus on providing local social and emotional support for food allergic families. The group usually has quarterly meetings and other events like Easter egg hunts, Halloween fun and games at the Durham Bulls. They are also a big reason for the local FAAN Walk. Click here for the groups Web site or click here to email for more information. You can also check out the group on Facebook.

Jules Shepard Gluten Free Thanksgiving Cooking Class @ Earth Fare

I've written numerous times about Celiac expert and Gluten Free cooking guru Jules Shepard before on Gluten Free Raleigh. Jules currently resides in Baltimore but has North Carolina ties and stops in for a visit every few months. Each time she stops in we are very lucky! I have had the pleasure of organizing 2 previous cooking classes with Jules (February & July) and she stopped by for another one in August. I have great news to report, Jules will again be back in Raleigh, this time for a timely Gluten Free Thanksgiving themed cooking demonstration. Thanksgiving can be like navigating a Gluten minefield, this class will be the perfect way to have a great GF feast.

See below for more information. I encourage you to sign up soon as space is limited and Jules' classes are in very high demand. As always, portion of the proceeds will go toward Celiac Disease research.

GF Thanksgiving With Jules Shepard
Earth Fare Raleigh
Sunday Nov. 15, 2-4:30pm

Jules Shepard returns to Earth Fare Raleigh to get us all ready for a delicious gluten-free Thanksgiving! Come experience firsthand how knowledgeable, entertaining and encouraging North Carolina native and gluten-free cooking expert Jules Shepard can be, at this in-person demonstration with the focus on Thanksgiving! Learn how simple it can be to prepare amazing gluten-free meals everyone in your family will enjoy this holiday season.

Dishes like gluten-free and dairy-free homemade casseroles, pie crusts, pumpkin pie, dinner rolls and stuffing! Sample a wide variety of goodies, ask questions and have Jules sign one of her two books at this limited-space class. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a special bonus, registrants in this Thanksgiving class will each get Jules' brand new 34 page Thanksgiving E-book full of recipes and tips for a great holiday (a $12.95 value)! See you there!

Class Fee is $40 (a portion of this registration fee will be donated to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research)

To register, visit JulesGlutenFree.com or call (433-1390)/visit Earth Fare.

Update: Custom Choice Cereal

In June, I wrote about a new company, Custom Choice Cereal, that allows you to create your own gluten free cereal mix. You can view the old post here. Custom Choice Cereal was created by Hajo and Patrick who are two recent graduates of the MBA program at UNC.

Now that the website is up and running I had a chance to create a mix of my own. I decided to order Good Morning Flakes with banana chips, strawberries, and almonds. It is delicious!

You have the option of first picking your base: Cinnamon Granola, Corn Flakes, or Good Morning Flakes. Then, you choose your favorite dried fruits including apples, apricots, banana chips, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, pears, pineapples, raisins, and strawberries. Next, you can add seeds and nuts to your cereal like almonds, coconut, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.

Risk of cross-contamination is nearly zero. Custom Choice Cereal uses ingredients that are naturally gluten free. All mixes are tested for the presence of gluten being less than 20 parts per million. The mixing facility is entirely gluten free.

You can choose to have your cereal shipped to you or you can pick it up from the facility.

I definitely recommend that you support Choice Choice Cereal by giving this local company a try!

Order your mix by going to www.customchoicecereal.com. If you have a Facebook account you can 'become a fan' of Custom Choice Cereal by going to this link. Be sure to share your experiences by commenting on this post.

Whole Foods Gluten Free List

Whole Foods seems to update their Gluten Free List often. For the latest list (updated 10.2.09) click here. There is also a Gluten Free/Casein list. If you want to see a list for a town other than Chapel Hill go to the Whole Foods website and click "stores" at the top of the page. After you find your store, go to its page and select special diets on the left hand side.

I recently bought some 365 Honey Roasted Cashews. The ingredients look as if they would be gluten free, but the cashews aren't on the list. I'm going to e-mail Whole Foods to check it out. If you have any suggestions or comments for them e-mail special.diets@wholefoods.com.

$5 Off Glutino Products

I got an e-mail coupon today that offers $5 off Glutino products when you spend at least $25. Go to www.glutenfree.com and enter the code BEFREE at checkout. The offer ends on October 31.

FDA Approves Gluten Free Beer

Check out this interesting article that talks about the FDA approving gluten free beer.

I was at Carrabba's in Raleigh and one of the servers told me about it. Nice to know that the FDA is taking more steps to monitor products as gluten free.

Bella Monica Pizzas

I went to Whole Foods today and saw that all varieties of Bella Monica pizza are in stock. I used to pick up a pizza whenever I went to Harmony Farms in Raleigh and looked often to see if the Chapel Hill Whole Foods started carrying them. Glad to see they're finally here!

Naturally Kerr Update

Taken from the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog...

I wrote back in April about a brand new concept being launched at Kerr Drug called Naturally Kerr. In that article I shared the following about the first two Kerr Drug stores to get this update in the entire nation (Raleigh & Asheville).

Non health categories such as automotive and hardware were removed. Their space was filled with a wide range of natural and organic products. The stores stock such items as gluten-free and allergy-free foods, kids' organic vitamins and supplements, and organic pet supplies and toys. There is also a natural baby section with organic diapers, lotions and other products. Along with sections dedicated to natural and organic products, there are also more of those items scattered throughout the stores.

I was recently contacted by Kerr Drug with the exciting announcement that the concept has been popular enough to open a third store. Lucky for us, it's close by in Chapel Hill. Check out the information below.

Kerr Drug Winning Customers “Naturally”
Company will open its third Naturally Kerr store in Chapel Hill

Raleigh. NC- July, 2009- Kerr Drug, a leading provider of pharmacy and other health care related services, will open another of its new Naturally Kerr locations to meet customer demand. The Chapel Hill store will be located in the new East 54
retail/residential/office community. The store will open October 26th with a Grand Opening celebration planned for November. Naturally Kerr locations become a “store within a store,” replacing traditional “drug store” convenience items such as automotive and hardware with natural, homeopathic and organic products. Naturally Kerr will fill about ¼ of the retail space.

“In three months, sales of natural, organic and homeopathic products at our two Naturally Kerr stores have exceeded our expectations,” says Anthony Civello, president and CEO of Kerr Drug. “Because of the tremendous customer demand we are moving ahead with a third location.”

Naturally Kerr stores opened in Kerr Drug locations in Harvest Plaza in Raleigh and on Patton Avenue in Asheville in April.

The Homeopathic department carries a complete line of health and beauty aids, supplements, baby and child remedies, diet and energy, digestive, and herbal products. The Natural and Organic categories include wheat-free/gluten free baking mixes, grains, desserts, snacks, cereals; breakfast products; candy, cookies, crackers; meals-to-go, entrees and soups; juices; pastas and sauces; organic pet food; coffees and teas and a variety of pantry items.

“Sales of gluten-free products are especially strong,” reports Anthony Latini, manager of Kerr Drug’s Harvest Plaza store in Raleigh. “We are meeting many first time shoppers who have never been in a Kerr Drug before and heard about us from friends or on a blog site. I am happy we are meeting the customer’s needs.”

Kerr Drug’s new Chapel Hill store will also feature an American Diabetes Association certified Diabetes Research Center and a full-time Community Health Resource Coordinator.

It's interesting to note how the press release specifically mentions the effect of blogs like Gluten Free Raleigh. As consumers, we can use blogs and the word of mouth they generate to help nudge companies to cater to those living the Gluten Free Lifestyle. Please continue to support Gluten Free Raleigh and other GF Blogs and help spread the word! If you hear of something great in the GF world, please contact me so I can write about it. We are having an impact.

Restaurant Review: McAlister's Deli

Debbie's post at Gluten Free Durham reminded me that I meant to do a review on McAlister's. Earlier in the summer I went to the one in Durham at New Hope Commons, but there is also a McAlister's on Franklin Street.

Here is the list of gluten free options on the website:

Sandwiches without bread: Smoked Deli Turkey, Roast Beef, Corned Beef, Chicken Salad, and Tuna Salad.

Southwestern Roasted Corn Soup

Plain Baked Potato with (or without) butter

Sides: Mashed potatoes without gravy, potato salad, steamed broccoli & carrots, and fruit salad

Dressings and Extras: all cheeses, lite sour cream, all salad dressing, bacon, and bacon bits

Grilled chicken breast is not gluten free due to the seasoning.

When I went to McAlister's I got a baked potato with butter, cheese, bacon, and sour cream. I've only been once, but I'll certainly go again!

Restaurant Update: Carmine's

A few weeks ago Darius, owner and chef of Carmine's, asked for my feedback concerning gluten free pasta dishes. I had the opportunity to try a couple of new items. After speaking with him again I feel very comfortable with Carmine's efforts to ensure the safety of those choosing to eat gluten free.

I decided to give Carmine's another try when my office needed lunch for a meeting. I was in charge of coordinating lunch and new everyone would find something they liked.

I enjoyed baked ziti without meat sauce. It was a takeout dish that was labeled as gluten free. I talked to Darius when picking it up and he assured me it was safe and he cooked it himself. Always ask to speak to him when ordering your meal. Thankfully, there is now a "gluten free pasta" button on the cash register to avoid any confusion.

I am very impressed with the changes that have been made. I highly recommend Carmine's as a great place to eat. I'm excited to see a local restaurant give so much attention to the gluten free diet. Please show your appreciation by giving Carmine's a try!

Update: Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mixes

I found the new Betty Crocker gluten free mixes in Chapel Hill today! The cookie, brownie, and devil's food cake mixes are at Food Lion across from Eastgate. The address is 1720 N. Fordham Blvd. At that location the mixes are $4.29 each.

Restaurant Review: Carmine's - Resolved

EDIT: See post for July 7, 2009. Carmine's has made a lot of positive changes and I highly recommend them.

In February, I wrote about Carmine's in Eastgate Shopping Center and had a great experience. However, I can't say the same tonight. I was told there were two types of gluten free pasta: spaghetti and penne. So, like last time I ordered Baked Ziti with gluten free penne. The waiter did not know the difference between "gluten free" and "whole wheat" pasta and I was given the wrong one. When I got the pasta I thought that it was darker than last time, but I thought it was all in my head. I often worry more than I should when ordering gluten free at restaurants.

Everyone apologized profusely, but as you know there is nothing else to be done. They were truly sorry and handled it the best that they could. The looks on everyone's faces said a lot about how sorry they were. We had a party of 5 and were not charged for our meals.

Right now, I am drinking lots of water hoping I won't feel too sick later tonight. I have not been sick in over two years and am not happy (to be as nice as possible).

In the future, I was told I could see the box of gluten free pasta and speak with the chef beforehand. If you ever decide to take the risk I would go as far as possible to ensure that everyone understands what it means to be gluten free. I feel bad for everyone there because I know how hard they try to accommodate special dietary needs. However, Carmine's would have to assure me that all employees are properly trained to the upmost degree before I'd ever go back.

I suggest that Carmine's uses different plates (different color, shape, etc.) as a sign that the dish is gluten free. Bella Monica and PF Changs have different plates. It eases customers' concerns and helps employees know that the meal needs special attention.

EDIT @ 9:15 pm (about 3 hours later): Definitely sick as of a few minutes ago, but doing alright, considering.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mixes

I finally was able to find some of the Betty Crocker gluten free mixes! I found the cookie mix and brownie mix last night at Harris Teeter in Durham. The address is: 1125 W NC Highway 54. It's pretty close to the Chapel Hill border. The brownies are great! :-) That Harris Teeter didn't have the Strawberry or Chocolate Chex, but I'll check again soon. I've looked all over Chapel Hill and haven't found the mixes, Strawberry Chex, or Chocolate Chex. If you find them, let me know!

Cafe Carolina

In the past I have contacted Cafe Carolina regarding gluten free options. I was told that they were aware of the needs of celiacs, but no menu items had been evaluated.

Cafe Carolina kept the addresses of people asking about gluten free on file. Today, I received an e-mail saying that the in-house nutrition consultant recommends certain items.

A quote from the e-mail is below:

Please note that we do not position any menu products as recommended for gluten-free diets and ingredients can change based on availability from the distributor, etc. Our General Managers will do their best to accommodate any special request, but they are not trained in the limitations of a gluten-free diet and will rely on you to instruct them on how to accommodate your request. If you suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease, please make sure that you are very specific with them about how to avoid cross-contamination.

As you can see, be careful giving instructions when you are requesting a meal. And if you have any doubt, don't take the risk. Hopefully, managers will become better trained on the details of the gluten free diet with time.

For now, here is the recommendation:

SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM NUTRITION CONSULTANT:
Listed below are salad items and a few other side items that can be prepared GLUTEN FREE. My suggestion is that a guest specifically orders a salad prepared GLUTEN FREE and that clean gloves, clean tongs and a clean mixing bowl be used to assemble the salad. This method should reduce the potential of cross contamination from other salads (mixing bowls), gloves used to handle breads and croutons and tongs. Gluten sensitivity does not produce the serious anaphylaxis complications that other allergens produce (such as peanuts). However, those suffering from GLUTEN INTOLERANCE or CELIAC DISEASE need to avoid all wheat, rye and barley and potential cross contamination with foods make from those common food ingredients.


CAFÉ SALADS THAT CAN BE ASSEMBLED GLUTEN FREE:
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad *
Caesar Salad *
Signature Salad *
House Salad *
Cobb Salad *
Turkey Berry Salad *
Tuna Salad Plate
Café Salad Sampler Plate
Chicken Salad Plate
ALL SALAD DRESSINGS

*ELIMINATE THE CROUTONS AND BREAD CHOICE FROM ALL SALADS

OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE GLUTEN FREE:
Fruit Cup
Cole Slaw
All meats (Roast Beef, Turkey, Salami, Chicken Breasts, Chunk Chicken (White and Dark), Pork BBQ, Sausage Patties, Bacon Slices, Bacon Bits)
All Cheeses

CONTAINS GLUTEN:
Other Salads not listed above
All Breads (Sandwiches, Flatbreads)
All Bakery (Sweets, Breakfast Breads, Breads, Treats)
All Brunch
Croutons
Crackers
Soups
Quiche
Egg Rounds (on breakfast sandwiches)
Yogurt
Potato Casserole

Cafe Carolina in Chapel Hill is located at 601 Meadowmont Village Circle. If you go soon, let me know about your experience there!

Gluten Free Raleigh Special Event: GF Cooking Demo w/ Jules Shepard

Click here for more information about an upcoming Gluten Free cooking demonstration with famous Celiac author Jules Shepard. The event will be held at the Earth Fare in Raleigh on July 12, 2009 @ 10am. Please sign up soon as only 40 spaces are available.

Custom Choice Cereal, LLC

I recently came across an interesting blog that talks about the creation of a local gluten free cereal company, Custom Choice Cereal. The company was founded in April by two students who graduated this year from the MBA program at the University of North Carolina.

Here is a piece of an e-mail that I received from the founders that helps explain the concept of their business:

Custom Choice Cereal will allow celiacs and people suffering from gluten intolerance to create their own favorite cereal from a wide variety of entirely gluten-free ingredients. Through our online platform (www.customchoicecereal.com), celiacs can pick a base mix, add dried fruit, nuts, and seeds as they please and give their cereal an individual name. We create the cereal mix in our entirely gluten-free facility and ship it conveniently to their doorstep. Custom Choice Cereal provides safe, healthy cereal specifically tailored to the needs of celiacs.

The website will go live soon and the company plans to be fully operational in July.

Updates to come!